Desires Hotels, the growing boutique arm of Tecton Hospitality, has broadened its horizons with the addition of executive vice president and managing partner Gary Sims, who’ll head the newly formed Desires Hotels International.

Desires operates 12 boutique properties in this country and Puerto Rico, and another two in New York City will soon open. The new international division brings expansion into Mexico and South America with projects in Cozumel, Mexico and Medellin, Columbia; a development on the Algarve in Portugal will be the first European property; and a location on the Cape Verde Islands will take DHI to Africa.

“For years, we’ve been getting calls,” says Raul Leal, president and partner of Tecton Hospitality and Desires Hotels. “We had turned down some opportunities, but we’re seeing more opportunities on the independent side, so we finally said, ‘Let’s take a shot with it.’”

And the timing was perfect. Leal and his Tecton partners knew Sims, who’s also based in Miami, and knew he was available. Sims has 30 years experience in the hospitality industry, most recently as president and CEO of Nikki Beach Hotels & Resorts. He’s held several senior positions with Starwood Hotel & Resorts.

“The ability to expand in this current economy and focus on future growth and penetration into new markets is very enticing,” Sims said in a release. “I look forward to bringing my expertise to DHI to further develop an international base of clientele.”

Tecton currently operates five branded properties and Leal says the company expects to have 20 properties in total by the end of the year, the bulk with Desires. Leal sees conversions as the greatest opportunity for growth in the current economy. “We’re offering a choice to today’s developer,” he says. “We have been a branded hotel operator for a long time, but we’re offering a choice. The opportunity for us now is with underperforming hotels with a brand, who maybe could do better as a niche product.”